The actress was born in Santa Monica, Calif. and attended the University of California at Berkeley. Gloria was married to Blair Gordon Neill for four years from 1930 to 1934 before marrying Arthur Sheekman in 1934. The couple had one daughter together and were together until Arthur’s death in 1978.

Gloria starred in 1930s films and such as The Invisible Man and Roman Scandals before taking on her famous role as narrator for the 1997 James Cameron film, Titanic.